Went to the service that I'd helped to design on Sunday night. It was absolutely wonderful..... No, I'm not saying that just because of my input.......... Let me explain!

I was tired. Really tired. And I was depressed.

Mum's cousin died last Monday and we were all pretty upset about it (more of that in a later post perhaps) but all you need to know for now is that we were depressed. I'd also had a really rough week at work, preparing for the arrival of the new students while still trying to get all the summer projects finished that had suffered funding delays. Also, our daughter started her new school, so we'd spent all week worrying about her. On Saturday, I'd gone to my first full day of my Reader training and the amount of information thrown at me made my head spin. Sunday (the day of rest) involved church in the morning, a local dog show in the afternoon, followed by a LARGE Sunday lunch of roast beef and all the trimmings. As I said to my wife, "I don't know about going to church, I just feel like going to bed and sleeping for a week".

The evening service included a worship band instead of the usual keyboard. This is because the service was a joint one between our church and the neighbouring parish, and the other church agreed to do the music. I've heard them before - LOUD! This time, however, they'd be playing the hymns we'd chosen - all except the last one which they'd written themselves. Pretty soon, I found myself tapping my feet, then clapping my hands and then, amazingly, dancing in the aisles - and all from a bloke with more than his share of left feet and no sense of rhythm (as my wife said at our wedding reception, I dance like I play football - I kick 'em round the corners). Incredible!

And so much better because I hadn't been expecting to enjoy myself. The peace of the Lord found me when I wasn't looking for it. He knew what I needed though, and forgave my lack of faith in His power.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage".
John 14:27

Conx

Copyright (c) Conway Billington

• Topic: Testimony

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